The Indian government’s Centre has given the green light for Vedanta’s oil and gas drilling plan in the ecologically sensitive Gibbon sanctuary in Assam.

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved a proposal by Vedanta Group’s Cairn Oil & Gas to explore for oil and gas in the eco-sensitive zone of the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India. The sanctuary is home to seven primate species and is considered an important habitat for them. Despite concerns from experts and local communities, the NBWL has cleared the proposal citing “national interest”. The Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry had granted in-principle approval earlier, and the site was inspected by a team from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Assam Forest Department. The inspection report recommended that no commercial drilling take place within the eco-sensitive zone, and the company has assured that exploration will only be for identifying hydrocarbon reserves, with any extraction done outside the ESZ. Local communities have raised concerns about the project, with some stating that no drilling can take place without permission from the Village Council and the Nagaland government.